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Your First Stop for Piledriving Technology News

APE Northeast was recently contacted by Helen Godzic of Marcellus, NY. She was involved in a project in Syracuse where they were trying to determine if the driven pile foundation of a 3 story parking garage built in Syracuse at the end of the 1950’s could handle the additional load of the 2 story vertical expansion that the property owner wanted to build.

One of the problems faced in trying to determine pile capacity in an active parking garage was that the testing would have to be carried out on the ground floor of a parking garage that had only 10ft of headroom. Could testing be done in this confined space?

After ruling out a static load test because of cost, GRL was consulted and it was determined that dynamically testing the piles was the best alternative, if a suitable hammer could be procured. This was when APE was contacted, and we came up with a combination of our 7.5 Hydraulic Impact Hammer, mounted in one of our forklift adapters.

It was determined that 1 pile in two pile caps on opposite sides of the garage would be exposed. The piles were mandrell-driven shell piles filled with rebar and concrete. The tops of the piles were about 5 feet below grade, so the contractor built a follower that consisted of a bonnet that sat on top of the pipe, transitioning to an h-pile. Using a 16,000 lb forklift, the 7.5 was positioned onto the h-pile follower, and the test was carried out, producing results better than anyone could have anticipated.

APE takes pride in our ability to offer unique solutions to the unique problems of good people like Helen.

Brothers David & Tony Cooper owners of Marenco LTD of Barbados W.I. recently purchased a New J&M Model 50 Power unit to run this Sand Dredge. The J&M Model 50 Power unit is used in conjunction with a 6” Sand Pump. When they have completed the Dredge work the J&M Model 50 P.U. will be used to Power their recently purchased J&M Model 218 Pile Crusher.
The Coopers once again have shown me you can build a very functional and profitable piece of equipment using what they have on hand and some old fashioned Caribbean Engineering.

The powerful APE Model 200-6 Vibratory Driver/Extractor has recently been put to the test with three NJ contractors. J.T. Cleary Inc. of Montvale, NJ employed the 200-6 to drive piles for a mooring pier along the Hackensack River in South Kearny. (A Junttan HHK7a hydraulic impact hammer proved bearing capacity). Creamer Environmental is pictured driving sheet piles along the Passaic River in Harrison. Conti Enterprises is shown driving sheets in Long Branch. Cleary, Creamer, and Conti were all extremely impressed with the performance of the 200-6. With 6600 in/lbs eccentric moment, 240 tons driving force, 1600 cycles per minute, and APE’s patented 2 stage supressor virtually eliminating unwanted crane boom vibration, the APE 200-6 is the best choice for contractors needing a 6600 in/lb machine. The three satisfied APE customers listed above are proof positive, and we thank them for their continued patronage.

For more information call Paul Kuzik of APE/J&M NE at 201-400-8356.

Tara Group was awarded the “Knotts Island” bridge replacement at the middle of 2006. Owner Charlie Andrews knew it would be a challenging project due to the conditions and location. Another challenge was deciding which pile hammer to choose for the job, it wasn’t a challenge, that was a “no brainer” Charlie said. They went APE for the second time! Tara group purchased a brand new APE D19-42 hammer and a set of leads in the beginning of 2006 and with it’s flawless performance we’d be crazy to consider anything else. Tara group has just purchased a brand new APE D-30 and another set of leads. The Tara Group has just began driving their test piles that are 24″ coated pipe piles, and needless to say it’s been an interesting start. APE / J&M wish Charlie & the Tara Group a safe and productive project. Contact your nearest APE / J&M branch to see how we can help you with current, or upcoming projects…..GO APE!

Dutra Construction of Northern California is a heavy contender in the piledriving industry. They know what it takes to get a job done even when the going gets tough. Tough like the Port of Oakland Merritt Sands can be tough, and you know how it goes: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”! And that is exactly what Dutra Construction did! They got going to APE to come up with a solution to the Port of Oakland Merritt Sand.
Todd Bruce of Dutra Construction came to APE with a special request to drive sheets using a 55’ long, heavy duty follower, to drive the sheets up against the existing dock with very little room and strict tolerances. Todd wanted to do the job right and used his knowledge of past Port Projects. With APE in Dutra’s corner Todd and the Dutra Group knew the project would be successful.
After careful consideration the Vibro of choice was the APE model 600B Vibro, because when King Kong just isn’t big enough “Super Kong” sets the new standard. Dutra Fab, out of RioVista California fabricated the heavy duty follower that bolts to the bottom of the 600B vibro and turns the sheet clamp 90 degrees to enable the driving of the sheets in series of steps that keeps the wall straight.
This is a hard enough job in it’s self, but add a water depth of 45 feet deep and you have a situation when you can’t even see the tops of the sheet pile. A special pile guide was fabricated to the bottom of the clamp that enables it to slip over the interlocks so the jaws can clamp evenly on the sheets even with out having to see the tops of the sheet pile.
Driving sheet pile in the Port of Oakland is tough enough, but when you add a 55’ long follower to the bottom of the Super Kong weighing in at 34,000lbs and backed up by the powerful APE model 1000 Power Unit charging ahead with 1000hp, you get one heck of a driving gorilla with enough driving force and energy to get the job done and Dutra is here to show us how. King Kong is one hard hitting vibro, but in a case like the “Tough Oakland Merritt Sands” it takes King Kong’s big brother, “SUPER KONG”, for the finishing touch!

When Local 1026 has a Piledriving School, they call on Frank D’Angelo to get things moving.
When Frank needs dependable equipment backed by reliable service, he calls on A.P.E.
American Piledriving Equipment believes it is very important to take part in the education and training of young Pilebucks. By this investment, we help to insure qulified, well trained personnel continue the Pilebuck trade.
A.P.E. is proud to be the choice of both young and old (i mean “experienced”) Pilebucks everywhere!

Recently a Boston area contractor took delivery of an APE Model 200-6 to drive permanent cold rolled sheets as part of a sewage pump station interceptor replacement project. Due to the urgency of this project, the 200-6 was selected because of a desire to be absolutely sure that the hammer was capable of driving thru a layer of cobbles 15ft down. As you can see, the 200-6 had no difficulty in accomplishing its mission.

Ed Waters & Sons is one of the most professional and respected contractors in the South. So, if Wayne Waters calls and says “it’s one of those jobs”, you better listen.
When driving criteria, engineering specifications, and job-site conditions don’t come together like they are supposed to (on paper), folks start scratching their heads. This was the case for Ed Waters & Son’s.
The D-19 was driving the piles but getting the blow count and the correct stroke was proving difficult, not to mention hard on the hammer.
The solution: the patented A.P.E. Hydraulic Fuel Pump. The pump allows the operator to adjust the flow of fuel between the standard settings. A good operator (as in this case) can tweek the setting to get an almost perfect finish. In some cases, it is exaclty what stops all the head scratching. Now they are able to drive the piles and easily maintain the required stroke from start to finish
With two D-19’s a D-25, and an A.P.E. Model 50 Vibro working, Ed Waters and Son’s have really gone A.P.E!

Malcolm Drilling is using the APE 170VM to minimize the radial vibration next to the main North South rail line in Downtown Seattle, WA.

The variable moment driver/extractor minimizes the effects of vibration to structures around the driving area by timing two sets of eccentrics to counteract each ther and then phase into time.

Call any of our APE offices for more information.

What do the 9-A extention, J.T.B. overpass, and the New Beach Blvd. Bridge all have in common? Superior Construction and American Piledriving Equipment!
These projects are underway using an A.P.E. Model 20 Drill, an A.P.E. Model D-36 and two D-62 Diesel pile hammers, an A.P.E. Model 200 Vibro and a J&M Model 416 Vibro. The latest purchase by Superior for these projects as well as the many upcoming jobs are a J&M Model 44-50 Vibro and a new A.P.E. Model D-62 (pictured at the Beach Blvd Bridge).
American Piledriving Equipment is committed to Superior and honored that have chosen to go A.P.E. again & again!